Undergraduate Language Grants

ULGs provide up to $5,000 (up to 75% of total expenses) for the intensive and experiential learning of foreign language during the summer.

Deadline:

Friday, January 29, 2016 for Summer 2016 study.

Eligibility:

Undergraduates who will be returning to Northwestern in the fall following the summer language study. Students cannot receive ULG funds to participate in language programs following graduation from Northwestern.

Guidelines

What It Is:

You identify a summer language-learning program, and this grant helps defray the costs of attending (up to $5,000 and up to 75% of total expenses).

Language programs must be at least six weeks in duration, and language instruction must be the predominant (if not the sole) aim of the program.

ULGs fund students who plan to use the summer language training in the pursuit of specific academic and/or professional goals. In your application, you’ll explain how your chosen language program will help you meet those goals.

The language-learning program you choose must provide:

The equivalent of a year's worth of college-level language instruction.

An “immersion” or “intensive” format to study and engage with the language approximately 3-5 hours/day, 4-5 days/week.

A clearly defined curriculum or instruction plan for a significant proportion of those hours.

Instructors with training or credentials in teaching (e.g. “conversation partner” activities or experience with untrained native speakers cannot constitute the bulk of the program).

A focus on the multiple modalities for language use (not just speaking/listening or writing/reading, but speaking, listening, reading AND writing).

You can apply for the ULG before applying to your summer language program. Grant recipients will later need to provide proof of registration in the language program in order to receive the funds.

At the end of the summer, you’ll need to provide a transcript showing successful completion of the language program.

When:

A minimum of six weeks in the summer.

You’ll apply for the grant at the end of January and receive notification from the committee within 4-6 weeks.

one from a language instructor with whom you have taken language coursework,

a second from a faculty member who can address the ways which a ULG will contribute your academic and/or career goals .

Outside faculty may be used as recommenders; graduate students and post-docs are not eligible, unless they are the student's primary language instructor. If a recommender falls into one of these categories, contact the ULG Coordinator prior to the deadline for details, as additional steps are required to get access to the online system.

Request endorsements at least four weeks prior to the deadline. Ask your recommenders to review Info for Faculty and provide them with a draft of your application materials (proposal and resume) well in advance to give them time to write their endorsements.

Faculty endorsements are due within four days after the student deadline. Unendorsed proposals will not be considered.

Make sure faculty see theInfo for Facultypage to show them how to access our system and the endorsement questions asked.

Help:

Selection Process:

Applications are evaluated by a faculty review committee. Grant recipients are selected on the basis of merit with consideration for:

Academic record and potential to successfully complete and benefit from the summer language study

Appropriateness of the chosen language program for the student's goals

Plan to continue studying the language

Plan to use the language in pursuit of specific academic goals or in future career

You’ll receive notification from the committee within 4-6 weeks after the submission deadline.

The review committee will approve a ranked waiting list. Grant recipients will have a month to accept or decline the award (often depending on their acceptance to the program involved), and students on the waiting list will be notified as soon as either a slot becomes available or the final recipients have accepted the award.

Grant recipients must provide proof of registration in the language program before grant funds will be released.

FAQs:

Who can help me choose a program?

Seek out advice from language instructors that you have previously had and/or the Study Abroad Office. If you are looking to study a new language with which you have no previous background, seek out instructors in that language through departmental web sites and set up appointments to discuss possible programs. Finally, do web research. However, remember not to take program promotional materials at face value; find out what others say about a program.

The program that I want to do is only a month long. Can I still apply?

No. Programs typically must be a minimum of six weeks. In exceptional cases, five-week programs may qualify, but these must be pre-approved by the appropriate NU language department. For languages where three- or four-week programs are common (such as German), students may apply for a ULG if they will be enrolled in sequential programs that total at least six weeks of immersive language study.

The program I like is really expensive!

The costs of these types of programs are often significantly more than the Undergraduate Language Grant amount. We encourage you to pursue additional support, including from departments/programs and other outside sources.

I want to study Kiswahili (or some other language not taught at NU). Is that possible?

Yes. It is a great use of a ULG to study a language not currently taught at Northwestern. We also recognize that formal programs in smaller languages may be more difficult to find. The Review Committee will remain open to smaller programs as long as the language work is intensive and rigorous. It will be your responsibility to make that case in your application.

Yes, but s/he will need to contact the ULG Coordinator for special instructions for submitting the endorsement. Your second endorsementmust come from a faculty member.

I studied abroad and want a faculty member from there to endorse me. Is that possible?

Yes. You may use faculty members from outside Northwestern. Contact our office for details, as outside people will need to obtain net ids to access the online application system.

Do I automatically receive academic credit for my program, even if it is not run by Northwestern?

Not necessarily. If you're interested in receiving academic credit at Northwestern from a Non-NU Summer Program, review this section of the Study Abroad Office's website. Study Abroad Advisers are happy to review the application and credit transfer processes with you.

The budget list on the application is long!

We want you to consider all expenses involved in such programs, and not merely tuition/fees. This way you can make an informed decision about your ability to finance the experience. The maximum ULG will fund is 75% of your total budgeted expenses up to $5,000.

What happens if my country goes on the Travel Warning list after I have been accepted?

If you have already received an ULG and are unable to obtain approval for an exception from the Study Abroad Risk Assessment Committee, we will work with you to locate another program where you can pursue your language study.

We are pleased to offer any grant recipient her/his own blog to use during the grant period. Check out the undergraduate research blogs. If you are interested in becoming a part of our blogging world, contact us.

What do I do when I’m done with my program?

In the fall after the end of the language program, ULG recipients must provide a copy of their transcript showing successful completion of the program.